Skirt-elevator



(No Model.)

B J COLBY SKIRT ELEVATOR.

No. 437,678. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. COLBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SKI RT-ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,678, dated October 7, 1890. Application filed December 18, 1889. Serial No. 334,204:- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. COLBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clothing-Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to devices for supporting clothing, and particularly to devices designed to assist ladies in lifting or supporting the skirts when on the street. I accomplish this by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a side view of the clamp; Fig. 4, a plan view of the same; Fig. 5, a detail sectional View of the catch.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in all the figures.

A is a belt, having the buckle B, upon which is secured the catch C, consisting of a covering D, with two vertical cam-rollers E E therein, slots F F inthe side of this covering to permit the passage of the cords G G, which are supported in the keepers II H upon the belt. These cords may be provided with tassels or rosettes J J, and each terminates in two branches K K, each of which branches terminates in a tassel L L. Each of these branches carries, preferably underneath such tassel, the clamp M, consisting of the jaws N 0 upon supports P R, which supports are joined together, being preferably composed of the same continuous piece of wire and encompassed with a clasp S. The support P is bent upwardly, as indicated, so as to cause the jaw N to form an angle with the jaw O.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: A lady desiring to employ the same will secure the belt in position about her waist and will pass the cords G G down her sides, attaching each of the clamps M M to the skirt or skirts. By then pulling upon the cords G G near the end where the tassels J J are attached, the cords will slide through their keepers and the skirt will be lifted. Both these cords are passed through the slots F F, both entering such slots from the same direction opposite from that in which the arrow is moved in Fig. 5. As the cords are pulled through in such direction, they are not intercepted; but as soon as they are freed and the weight of the skirts tends to move them in opposite direction, the cam-rollers move on their pivots and the cords are securelyclamped or caught. The clamps are shaped as shown, the two jaws coming together as the clasp S is pushed downward or toward the jaws. The jaws come together first at their outer extremities and one pass into the other. Thus they are firmly and securely seizing the goods, but at the same time in such a manner as not to tear or injure the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

A skirt-supporter consisiingof a belt provided with a buckle in front and cord-guides at the sides thereof, in combination with the cords G G, each passing in opposite directions from the front of the belt around the back thereof through the said guides and depending from the belt at the sides thereof, said cords having clamps at their lower extremities, and a cord-securing device at the front portion of the vest, consisting of the vertical eccentric-rollers E E, mounted on the case D, said case having slots F F for the cords, whereby the cords may be clamped by the rollers, as set forth.

EDWARD J. COLBY.

WVitnesses:

FRANCES W. PARKER, CELESTE P. CHAPMAN. 

